A birthday at Beamish.

6.2.13

As I mentioned here we went to Beamish on Sunday for my 28th birthday. For those who don't know, Beamish is a "living museum" in County Durham which is split into different areas such as the Edwardian Town, the Pit Village, and Home Farm, with trams every 20 minutes to take you from one area to the next.

It took a couple of hours to drive
there but it was a nice easy route, although a tad hair raising in the
strong wind in my little Smart car!

We
were hoping it wouldn't be too busy which luckily it wasn't as I think
the blustery wind and cold temperatures had put people off the idea of
an outdoors museum. Us? We're hard as nails!

The Edwardian Town, where we ended up last, was our favourite bit. You feel like you have stepped back in time and it was so interesting wandering around looking at, and going inside, the buildings, shops and houses. The sweet shop was a particular favourite, as was the dental surgery and the singing teachers home which was crammed full of furniture and trinkets.

There were staff dressed up at every turn to explain a little more about each house or shop. Let's just say, I wouldn't have wanted dental treatment back in those days. Ouch!

It was extremely windy so you will have to excuse my hair which I gave up on. I will say that the weather conditions combined with everything being nicely spread out meant that it was nice and quiet, which meant we often felt like we had the place to ourselves.

We braved the chilly walk up to the top of a hill to see Pockerley Old Hall which represents the home of a wealthy family in the 1800s. After having a good nosy round, warming ourselves up by the many wood burning fires, and trying some oatmeal and cheese(!) biscuits that had just been served up in the kitchen we felt ready to head back outside.

If you haven't been it's definitely worth a visit. We would like to go back when there's a special event on or a theme such as Bonfire Night or Christmas. Our tickets give us entry for one year which is brilliant, so we may well go back.

I imagine it would be lovely in warmer months where you could take a picnic and sit on the picnic area by the Edwardian Town.

If you've been to Beamish let me know if you enjoyed it. I imagine it's not everyone's cup of tea but I personally love places like this (I'm a fan of Eden Camp too!) so I had a great time.

If you haven't been but you plan to, allow a good few hours for your visit (I think we took about 3 hours or so, but if you look at every little bit of detail it could take much longer) and wrap up warm! It's also worth checking the website for the opening times and days that they're closed, as well as checking the calendar for any special events you could go to!

I love living museums. When I was little, one of our school trips was to the Black Country Museum. There was an old fashioned fairground, a mine, an old sweet shop where we watched the shopkeeper make hard boiled sweets and plenty of other people in character! I have such fond memories of it, and plan to return one day with my husband! Looks like you had a lovely time xx

I visited Beamish as a child with my parents. The memories have stayed with me, we had a fabulous time. I love living museums and I've always been fascinated by history. I'd love to take my two little ones, I know Izzy would be equally intrigued by the place.

I've never been but would love to go. This sort of thing is right up my street, although it is a shame it is soooo blinking far away from me :( But I will be sure to check it out when I am in that neck of the woods again.

Aww Beamish holds special memories for me, being from Newcastle I've been many many times! We even went on school trips and had to dress like victorian children! It's absolutely amazing and the sweet shop is stuff of dreams.

Beamish is on my 'UK go and visit' list, which I keep adding to and am not doing a particularly good job of ticking off at the moment! Maybe when i'm on maternity leave I'll get round a few more, but I want to go even more after your post! Hope you had a lovely weekend xx

Sounds like you had a great day. I love anything old fashioned and nostalgic so this is definitely on my list of places to visit. It reminds me of the Black country living museum. We were taken there once on a school trip and I absolutely loved it x

Looks like you had a fab birthday Victoria. I have never heard of Beamish in my life but it looks like a place I would like to visit, it kinda reminds me of Coronation Street in a weird way. Oh and you look lovely by the way, windswept and everything :-) x

I love Beamish, I live right next to it! You're right the sweetshop is amazing! Did you get to watch them make the sweets? Last time I went though I was chatting with the Dr's wife and she told me she was the Dentists wife Monday through Wednesday. Ruined it a little for me haha xxx

I love Beamish, I live right next to it! You're right the sweetshop is amazing! Did you get to watch them make the sweets? Last time I went though I was chatting with the Dr's wife and she told me she was the Dentists wife Monday through Wednesday. Ruined it a little for me haha xxx

This looks amazing!! I love unusual things like this and have always been such a fan of history.. Is a shame it is so far from London but will have to see in the summer if the boyfriend would like to go!! xx